News from your model shop - 23rd of August 2020

Hello

Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips located at the bottom of the newsletter.

Caroline Cleaveley sent us a few pictures of the current status of her layout. She has now finished the power station and is starting on the outside test tracks. Simply click on the pictures to access them in larger size and see a bonus picture!

 

 

 

This month in history - In August 1923 the Great Western Railway took delivery of its very first 4073 Class. Better known as the Castle Class, the locomotives achieved great success and were in production right up until 1950. The first locomotive to be received by the GWR was 4073 Caerphilly Castle, a 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive which rolled off the production line at the great Swindon Works. Interestingly, Caerphilly Castle still resides in Swindon today as a static exhibition at the Seam Museum of the Great Western Railway. Happy 97th birthday Caerphilly Castle!

Back to the present day and during the lockdown a lot of modellers have been turning to their layouts to fill an unexpected abundance of spare time, also during these times, quite a few new and born-again modellers have started building new layouts too.

Whether you are a first time modeller, rediscovering the hobby or maybe you are happily expanding an established layout, you can never have too much information. The problem is that a lot of modellers don't realise just how much help there is out there,

A good example of the kind of help available is Peco's Shows-You-How guides, they cover a wide range of topics from the conception of a layout to the more complicated subject of DCC operation and just about everything in between. They are really helpful for modellers new and experienced by covering topics in an informative and easy to understand way.

While you can see the full range here, below are a few examples of the non-gauge-specific guides that would help a modeller that is just starting out, they cover subjects such as building a baseboard, modelling landscapes, signalling, building Wills plastic kits and modelling water. The Peco catalogue is also a good choice because it really builds up an awareness of the kinds of products that are out there to help you build the kind of layout that you want, but it does it in a way that isn't sales orientated or pushy, it even has some great tutorials incorporated into it and will give you some great inspiration if you are needing a little help visualising or planning your layout.

 

 

 

 

Wiring a layout is probably the most daunting aspect when constructing a layout for the first time, these Shows You How guides cover this subject too in three digestible stages.



Another aspect of modelling for the first time that is often unrealised is the number of really useful tools that exist to make our lives easier. Just a few examples of such tools that really make a difference include mini and micro vices, pin-point water-based-glue syringes, track cutters, diamond files and cable strippers. These are just a few of the tools that are specially designed for the job in hand and are a mainstay of many modeller's toolbox.